The uncommon lawlessness of Godswill Obot Akpabio, By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu
Reading Time: 10 mins read
Godswill
Godswill
Obot
Obot
Akpabio aspired to be president of Nigeria and ended up president all the same, but of the Senate. In that capacity, he presides over the National
Akpabio aspired to be president of Nigeria and ended up president all the same, but of the Senate. In that capacity, he presides over the National
Assembly
Assembly
. That makes him the number three in citizen of the country, behind only the president and his vice.
. That makes him the number three in citizen of the country, behind only the president and his vice.
It is ordinarily a pretty perch from which a lot can be accomplished but
It is ordinarily a pretty perch from which a lot can be accomplished but
that
that
also depend
also depend
s
s
on what “a lot” means.
on what “a lot” means.
Unlike many politicians in Nigeria, Akpabio went to schools
Unlike many politicians in Nigeria, Akpabio went to schools
that
that
were in existence at the time he received his certificates and h
were in existence at the time he received his certificates and h
e has
e has
school mates
school mates
who
who
are still alive. He completed High School at the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt and received his first degree in Law from the University of Calabar,
are still alive. He completed High School at the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt and received his first degree in Law from the University of Calabar,
where he was also Speaker of the Students’ Union Parliament
where he was also Speaker of the Students’ Union Parliament
. At the
. At the
Law
Law
School
School
in Lagos, he sat two rows behind
in Lagos, he sat two rows behind
former
former
Ohanaeze
Ohanaeze
Nd’Igbo
Nd’Igbo
President-General,
President-General,
Nnia
Nnia
Nwodo
Nwodo
,
,
and three in front of me
and three in front of me
. On 3 November, 1988, he was admitted to the Nigerian Bar.
. On 3 November, 1988, he was admitted to the Nigerian Bar.
Akpabio is one of very few politicians to have held office con
Akpabio is one of very few politicians to have held office con
tinuously
tinuously
in Nigeria through the quarter century since the country returned to civil rule. Coincidentally, the man whom he succeeded as Senate President is another.
in Nigeria through the quarter century since the country returned to civil rule. Coincidentally, the man whom he succeeded as Senate President is another.
Over this period,
Over this period,
Akpabio
Akpabio
has held a combination of appointive and elective offices in the state cabinet, as both commissioner and governor; and at the federal level as senator and minister.
has held a combination of appointive and elective offices in the state cabinet, as both commissioner and governor; and at the federal level as senator and minister.
On his first
On his first
tour of duty in the Senate
tour of duty in the Senate
,
,
he took control of a small fraction as
he took control of a small fraction as
Minority Leader
Minority Leader
in 2015
in 2015
with the
with the
Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)
Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)
. Three years later, in 2018, Akpabio
. Three years later, in 2018, Akpabio
flipped party
flipped party
, crossing over to the
, crossing over to the
All Progressives Congress (APC).
All Progressives Congress (APC).
Now he carries on as if he owns the whole place.
Now he carries on as if he owns the whole place.
In 2023, Akpabio’s ambition was the presidential ticket of the ruling party but, as
In 2023, Akpabio’s ambition was the presidential ticket of the ruling party but, as
it turned out,
it turned out,
it was not his turn. By the time the presidential ticket was decided, however, the party had also concluded primaries for the other elective positions down-ballot. In
it was not his turn. By the time the presidential ticket was decided, however, the party had also concluded primaries for the other elective positions down-ballot. In
his home
his home
constituency in Akwa Ibom State, the ticket for the Senate
constituency in Akwa Ibom State, the ticket for the Senate
was
was
originally
originally
decided in
decided in
favour
favour
of
of
Udom
Udom
Ekpeudom
Ekpeudom
, a retired deputy inspector-general of Police.
, a retired deputy inspector-general of Police.
Like his predecessor in the office of Senate President
Like his predecessor in the office of Senate President
and by dint of a brand of judicial invention to which Nigeria
and by dint of a brand of judicial invention to which Nigeria
uniquely
uniquely
holds the patent,
holds the patent,
Akpabio successfully edged out the original winner and ended up with a ticket to the Senate from the party. Emmanuel
Akpabio successfully edged out the original winner and ended up with a ticket to the Senate from the party. Emmanuel
Aziken
Aziken
delicately
delicately
reports
reports
that
that
“the role of money in the rediscovery of Akpabio and Lawan remains in
“the role of money in the rediscovery of Akpabio and Lawan remains in
the realm of speculation and extending that in this commentary may breach upon the integrity of the Supreme Court which
the realm of speculation and extending that in this commentary may breach upon the integrity of the Supreme Court which
validated
validated
the candidature of the two men.”
the candidature of the two men.”
Akpabio’s tenure a
Akpabio’s tenure a
s
s
Senate
Senate
President
President
has been busy.
has been busy.
He has the dubious distinction of being responsible for the largest cabinet, coinciding also with the harshest times in the country’s history.
He has the dubious distinction of being responsible for the largest cabinet, coinciding also with the harshest times in the country’s history.
He
He
led the upper
led the upper
chamber
chamber
to
to
consent
consent
to the appointment of 20 special advisers to the president and successfully screened 49 nominees for ministerial appointment, including at least one
to the appointment of 20 special advisers to the president and successfully screened 49 nominees for ministerial appointment, including at least one
serving member
serving member
of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
He also
He also
turfed
turfed
out three
out three
ministerial
ministerial
nominees,
nominees,
including
including
the former governor of Kaduna State, Na
the former governor of Kaduna State, Na
sir
sir
El-Rufai.
El-Rufai.
Under him, the business of the Senate happens at the speed of
Under him, the business of the Senate happens at the speed of
Abracadabra
Abracadabra
.
.
When Akpabio ran to be Senate President, his campaign manage
When Akpabio ran to be Senate President, his campaign manage
r was
r was
Ali Ndume
Ali Ndume
, the senator f
, the senator f
or
or
Borno South who, coincidentally, grew up
Borno South who, coincidentally, grew up
in
in
Port Harcourt around the same time that Akpabio d
Port Harcourt around the same time that Akpabio d
id
id
high school there. When the spoils fell to be shared thereafter, Senator Ndume emerged the Majority Whip.
high school there. When the spoils fell to be shared thereafter, Senator Ndume emerged the Majority Whip.
There was, therefore, justifiable spectacle to the scene that unfolded on the floor of the Senate around 11 October, when
There was, therefore, justifiable spectacle to the scene that unfolded on the floor of the Senate around 11 October, when
Mohammed
Mohammed
Onawo
Onawo
, who represents
, who represents
Nasarawa
Nasarawa
South,
South,
rose to
rose to
complain
complain
that the Senate President was “
that the Senate President was “
just passing bills without prior notification, even money bills, you just pass without anyone’s contribution and within 2 hours. This is not good for Nigeria and history will judge you
just passing bills without prior notification, even money bills, you just pass without anyone’s contribution and within 2 hours. This is not good for Nigeria and history will judge you
.
.
”
”
Senators generally bridled at the fact that they had been “ambushed all the time when very sensitive bills are brought and expected to be passed with the speed of light, which is not good for this country.” This complaint
Senators generally bridled at the fact that they had been “ambushed all the time when very sensitive bills are brought and expected to be passed with the speed of light, which is not good for this country.” This complaint
ostensibly
ostensibly
had the support of the Senate Whip.
had the support of the Senate Whip.
This sounds serious. For example, the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has
This sounds serious. For example, the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has
sent
sent
to Akpabio an oppressive
to Akpabio an oppressive
Social Media Regulation Bill
Social Media Regulation Bill
. At his rate of parliamentary business, it could all be passed in less than a day with few or no questions asked.
. At his rate of parliamentary business, it could all be passed in less than a day with few or no questions asked.
Anyway,
Anyway,
Senate President
Senate President
Akpabio
Akpabio
did not bother to controvert
did not bother to controvert
Senators
Senators
Onawo
Onawo
or Ndume
or Ndume
.
.
Instead
Instead
, he took the opportunity to
, he took the opportunity to
articulate his philosophy of parliamentary busin
articulate his philosophy of parliamentary busin
ess and leadership that is best described as the doctrine of pr
ess and leadership that is best described as the doctrine of pr
ophetic
ophetic
altruism. In his own words:
altruism. In his own words:
“If what we pass is good for the country, history will judge me right. If what we are passing with the speed of light is in the interest of Nigerians, history will judge me right.
“If what we pass is good for the country, history will judge me right. If what we are passing with the speed of light is in the interest of Nigerians, history will judge me right.
I don’t think we would come here to pass a bill that will not be in the interest of Nigerians.”
I don’t think we would come here to pass a bill that will not be in the interest of Nigerians.”
Four years ago, while he was still a minister in the federal cabinet,
Four years ago, while he was still a minister in the federal cabinet,
Thisday
Thisday
newspaper
newspaper
reminded us
reminded us
that
that
“
“
Akpabio is not a man of ideas, neither is he one to embrace the niceties of democratic norms because respect for due process and the rule of law – the core values of
Akpabio is not a man of ideas, neither is he one to embrace the niceties of democratic norms because respect for due process and the rule of law – the core values of
democracy – are not part of his forte. He’s just a believer in the power of cash and whatever cash cannot buy, more cash can buy it.”
democracy – are not part of his forte. He’s just a believer in the power of cash and whatever cash cannot buy, more cash can buy it.”
Akpabio’s philosophy of pr
Akpabio’s philosophy of pr
ophetic
ophetic
altruism embodies three dangerous propositions. First, he sets up a contradiction between parliamentary due process on the one hand and public good on the other, manufactured in his head entirely for the purpose of retrenching the former without no intention of fulfilling the latter.
altruism embodies three dangerous propositions. First, he sets up a contradiction between parliamentary due process on the one hand and public good on the other, manufactured in his head entirely for the purpose of retrenching the former without no intention of fulfilling the latter.
Second,
Second,
he transforms
he transforms
“if”
“if”
from a contingency to a pr
from a contingency to a pr
ophecy
ophecy
,
,
essentially
essentially
grant
grant
ing
ing
himself the
himself the
license to trample whatever he can in
license to trample whatever he can in
pursuit of
pursuit of
whatever he fancies in the misbegotten belief that his fancies
whatever he fancies in the misbegotten belief that his fancies
represent
represent
the public interest.
the public interest.
Third,
Third,
Akpabio
Akpabio
goes further in
goes further in
a
a
fit of terminal
fit of terminal
conceit t
conceit t
o
o
clothe his presumption with irrefutability
clothe his presumption with irrefutability
, preening himself
, preening himself
as
as
the embodiment of every citizen and transforming him into
the embodiment of every citizen and transforming him into
the parliamentary equivalent of Louis XIV.
the parliamentary equivalent of Louis XIV.
This shows
This shows
a
a
remarkable consistency of
remarkable consistency of
hubristic
hubristic
narcissism but will be news to citizens beholding the filigree of
narcissism but will be news to citizens beholding the filigree of
new SUVs
new SUVs
to all members of the National Assembly funded from the
to all members of the National Assembly funded from the
proceeds of unconcealed quantitative easing,
proceeds of unconcealed quantitative easing,
while many of them die from an epidemic of penury
while many of them die from an epidemic of penury
supervised with glee
supervised with glee
by Akpabio
by Akpabio
.
.
When he governed Akwa Ibom State,
When he governed Akwa Ibom State,
Godswill Obot
Godswill Obot
Akpabio liked to
Akpabio liked to
describe himself and his tenure as “
describe himself and his tenure as “
uncommon
uncommon
.”
.”
By the time he arrived the Senate, he found himself in the company of 108 others. To separate himself from them, he metamorphosed into the “Uncommon Senator”. In an uncommon act of grace to his predecessors, Akpabio chose instead to
By the time he arrived the Senate, he found himself in the company of 108 others. To separate himself from them, he metamorphosed into the “Uncommon Senator”. In an uncommon act of grace to his predecessors, Akpabio chose instead to
promise
promise
as he ran to lead the
as he ran to lead the
10
10
th
th
Senate that he will be an “uncommon transformer” if
Senate that he will be an “uncommon transformer” if
chosen
chosen
.
.
His rhetoric of running an
His rhetoric of running an
uncommon senate
uncommon senate
has now d
has now d
isintegrated
isintegrated
into a reality of
into a reality of
uncommon lawlessness.
uncommon lawlessness.
In
In
the past week, Akpabio boasted about how he ignored the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
the past week, Akpabio boasted about how he ignored the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
to answer to
to answer to
serious allegations of financial crime against him because,
serious allegations of financial crime against him because,
he claimed
he claimed
, it was based on a
, it was based on a
“frivolous petition”
“frivolous petition”
. He
. He
impli
impli
ed
ed
in the same line that former governors were above the law. One citizen summed it all up in two fitting words: “
in the same line that former governors were above the law. One citizen summed it all up in two fitting words: “
audacious rogues
audacious rogues
.”
.”
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